Boat fastening apparatus



06L 2, 1951 sMlTH 2,569,783

BOAT FASTENING APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1948 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOAT FASTENING APPARATUS Floyd A. Smith, Vicksburg, Mich. Application July 23, 19 18, SerialjNo. 40,377

This invention relates to improvements in boat fastening apparatus.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a boat fastening apparatus which may be quickly engaged with or attached to a boat or disengaged therefrom and when engaged effectively holds the boat in spaced relation to a support such as a dock or the like while permitting free rocking and up and down movement of the boat such as results from waves.

Second, to provide a device having these advantages which subjects the boat to a minimum of strain.

Third, to provide an apparatus which is simple and economical in its parts and at the same time highly efficient.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

1 A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus or equipment embodying my invention in operative relation to a boat, a fragment of a dock being illustrated.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing further structural details thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section, the hitch bar being shown in engaged position by full lines and in tilted position illustrating the engagement and disengagement thereof by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an inverted view of the coupling socket and. of the hitch bar.

In the accompanying drawing I represents a dock and 2 a boat, both being shown conventionally. In practice the apparatus of my invention is desirably used in pairs, one apparatus or de- Zv-ice being attached to the prow end of the boat and the other to the stern desirably at one corner thereof where the boat is flat ended as that illustrated.

The apparatus of my invention comprises a hitch bar 3, desirably a piece of pipe, having an anchoring eye member 4 threaded on its inner end the eye 5 being desirably horizontally disposed. At its outer end the bar is provided with a socket coupling head member 6 threaded upon the bar and provided with a downwardly facing socket 1 adapted to coact with a rounded head 8 of the stud coupling member 9 which is adapted for attachment to. a boat it being illustrated as men ed w t e-1 beet n a gr w}!- ,10 Claims. (01.114-230) l 2 The stud member, however, is provided with a flange having holes 1| therein adapted to receive attaching screws [2 which provide a very secure attachment and permits attachment to differently positioned and shaped boat parts. This stud coupling member is provided with a shank 13 which merges into the head 8 with a downwardly facing shoulder M.

The outer edge ofthe socket has an inwardly projecting chord-like lip I5 which is disposed below the shoulder I4 when the socket coupling member is in engagement with the stud member, as best shown in Fig. 3, and retains the socket member in engagement with the stud member while permitting engagement and disengagement by a tilting swinging movement of the hitch bar. This also provides a universal joint connection .permitting free movement of the boat while it is restrained.

The anchoring pin 16 is provided with a threaded portion I! which may be screwed into the edge of the dock or other support I. The pin is adapted to receive the eye 5 of the hitch bar and support the hitch bar in an approximately horizontal position or in such position as will prevent the disengagement of the bar from the stud without manual manipulation. Desirably the pin I6 is provided with a hole [8 adapted to receive the hasp IQ of a padlock 20.

To limit the horizontal swinging of the hitch bar I provide a pair of stay cables 2|, the cables illustrated being in the form of chains. These have links 22 at their outer ends engaging holes 23 in the oppositely projecting flanges 24 on the socket coupling member 6. Each of the cables is provided with a shock absorbing spring 25 which is a compression spring and is mounted on a pair of loop-like elongated links 26 having laterally turned ends 21 which constitute abutments for the ends of the spring. One of these links is provided with a screw eye 28 which may be threaded into the dock or support I. With this arrangement the longitudinal movement of the boat is limited by the stay chains some movement being permitted by the shock absorbing springs.

The structure described is desirably used in pairs, one stud member [3 being attached to the prow of the boat and the other tothe rear of the boat. The hitch bars may be very quickly engaged with or disengaged from the stud members bya tilting swinging movementl At the same time, when engagedthey cannot become accidentally disengaged.

I hav e illustrated and described my invention 3 in an embodiment which is highly practical. I have not attempted to illustrate certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is: a l

l. A boat fastening apparatus" comprising a hitch bar having a horizontally disposed eye at its inner end and a socket coupling head at its outer end provided with a downwardly facing socket, the coupling head having oppositely; projecting side flanges provided with holes, a coupling stud member adapted for attachmrit'to a boat and comprising a curved' head and-:ashank I merging into the head with a downwardlyfacin'g shoulder, there being an inwardly projecting chord-like lip at the outer edge of the socket disposed'below'the shoulder whenetheW-socket is engaged with the coupling stud member; the

coupling head being =erigageab-le with and dleengageable from the studveoupling member by atilting swinging movement-of the'inner end of the-bar, a support engaging'anchoringpinifor saidbar adapted totreceive theiieyeat theinner end of the bar and support-thezbar inan:approxi- 'mately'horizontal positionsw ithl its-coupling head :inrengagement: with the coupling iS-tlld' member 'alfixed on a iboatyan'da pair of stay cables engaged at their outer' ends in' s'aid. holesfinvsaid flanges or coupling head and provided with attaching eyes at their inner ends adapted :for

engagement with the support in spacedrelation to'the said anchoring pin with the :cables in :in wa'rdly diverging relation, ea'ch cable being 1 provided: with a-pairoi elongated :lo'opelike spring supporting links arranged in oppositely-disposed telescoping relation, and -'a coil "spring -arranged *on said'links', the arms or the links-being provided with outwardly "turned -'ends:engaging the ends/of: the-spring.

2'. -A i boat -fastening apparatus comprising" a "hitch'bar having a horizontallydisposed eye at its inner end and a socket coupling-head at its outer end provided with a downwardly facing socket, the coupling head having-oppositely pr ojecting side flanges providedwith holes. a cou- --pling stud memberadapted-=for attachment to a boat and comprising a curved head and-a shank merging into-thehead with a downwardly facing shoulder, there being an inwardly projecting chord-like lip at the outer "edge of the socket disposed below the shoulder when'the socket is engaged with the coupling-studmember,the couend of the bar and-supportthe bar in-an'approx-imately horizontal position wit'hits coupling-head -in engagement" with thecouplingstud' member affixedon a boat-anda pair ofstaycablesengaged at their outer ends in said holes -in--said flanges of the-c0upling head-and provided-with attaching eyes at" their innen ends; adapted for engagement with thesuppOrt-inspaeed relation to the saidanchoring pin with-the-cables in i'n'wardly diverging r-elation.

, 3. A boat fastening apparatus comprising 'a hitch bar havinga horizontally dispose'deye at i'ts inner end and a socket coupling l-iead atdts outer end-provided with-w downwardly racing socket,

4 r the coupling head having oppositely projecting side flanges provided with holes, a coupling stud member adapted for attachment to a boat and comprising a curved head and a shank merging into the head with a downwardly facing shoulder, there being an inwardly projecting chord-like lip at'the outer edge of the socket disposed below the shoulder when the socket is engaged with the cqupling'stud member, the coupling head being engageable with and disengageable from the stud 'couplingmemberby a tilting swinging movement of the inner end of the bar, a support engaging 'anchoring pin for said bar adapted to receive -thg::eye attire inner end of the bar and support thebar in an approximately horizontal position with its-coupling head in engagement with the ,coupling \stud member affixed on a boat, and a pair of stay cables engaged at their outer ends i'n said holes in said flanges of the coupling head and provided with means at their inner ends for attachmentto the support in spaced relation to said anchoring pin, each cable being provided with a pair of elongated loop-like spring supporting links. arranged in oppositely disposed with a downwardly facing-socket; a coupling; stud member adapted for attachment to abjoat and comprising ahead and a 'sharhkcmerging into the head with: a downwardly :facing shoulder, the socket having a part retainingly doactingywith :the shoulder when the :socket is engaged with the coupling .stud' member,- the coupling. head being .engageable with and disengageable. from the stud coupling memberby a til-ting movement thereof, a'support engaging anchoring- :pin for s'aidbar adapted toreceive the :eyeiat thezinner end of the bar with its coupling head in engagement with thew-coupling studmembe'r while it is afilxedltosa boat, andcstay-eables connectediiat their outer ends to ;said bar and I provided with means at their inner ends for attachmentit'othe support in'spaced relation to the said "anchoring pin with the cables in inwardly rdiverging relation, each scable b'eing provided -with a shock absorbing spring. a

5. A' boat fastening apparatus comprising a hitch bar having :an eye Sat its inner' end -and a socket coupling head at its outer end provided with a downwardly-facing socket, a couplin'g' 'stud member adapted for attachment to a'boatan'd comprising a head anda shank merging intothe head witha downwardly faeing shoulder'fi-the socket :having a part *retaining'ly c'o'a'cting with the shoulder when the socket-is engagedwith-the coupling stud: memben the couplinghead being engageable with and disengageable f-rom the stud coupling member by a tilting movement thereof, a support engaging anchoring pin for said' bar adapted to receivethe eye at thein-ner end'of the bar with its coupling' head in engagement with the coupling-stud memberwhile itisaffixe'd to-a boat.

6'. A boat fastening apparatus comprisinga hitch bar :having aII--eye atitsinner end and a socket member at its outer end providedwith -a downwardl y f acing socket, a coupling stud member a'dapted'-for attachment to-aboaLt-and having a head with which said socket membernay' be engaged by atilting movement crane-stem member, the disengagement of the socket member being prevented when the hitch bar is in an approximately horizontal position, said socket member having means disposed on one side thereof and projecting beneath said stud mem ber head at one side of the stud member to prevent said disengagement of the socket member from the stud member head, a support engaging anchoring pin for said bar adapted to receive the eye at the inner end of the bar, said pin being adapted to receive a lock which constitutes means for preventing the disengagement of the eye from the pin.

'7. A boat fastening apparatus comprising a hitch bar having an eye at its inner end and a socket member at its outer end provided with a downwardly facing socket, a coupling stud member adapted for attachment to a boat and having a head with which said socket member may be engaged by a tilting movement 'of the socket member, the disengagement of the socket member being prevented when the hitch bar is in an approximately horizontal position, said socket member having means disposed on one side thereof and projecting beneath said stud member head at one side of the stud member to prevent said disengagement of the socket member from the stud member head, and a support engaging anchoring pin for said bar adapted to receive the eye at the inner end of the bar.

8. A boat fastening apparatus comprising a hitch bar having a socket member at its outer end provided with a downwardly facing socket, a coupling stud member adapted for attachment to a boat and having a head with which said socket member may be engaged by a tilting movement of the socket member, the disengagement of the socket member being prevented when the hitch bar is in an approximately horizontal position, said socket member having means disposed on one side thereof and projecting beneath said stud member head at one side of the stud member to prevent said disengagement of the socket member from the stud member head, and a support engaging anchoring means at the inner end of the bar.

9. A boat fastening apparatus comprising a hitch bar having a socket member at its outer end provided with a downwardly facing socket, a coupling stud member adapted for attachment to a boat and having a head with which said socket member may be engaged by a tilting movement of the socket member, the disengagement of the socket member being prevented when the hitch bar is in an approximately horizontal position, a support engaging anchoring means for the inner end of said bar, and a pair of stay cables connected at their outer ends to said bar and provided with attaching means at their inner ends adapted for attachment to the support in spaced relation to the said hitching bar anchoring means with the cables in inwardly diverging relation, each cable being provided with a pair of elongated loop-like spring supporting links arranged in oppositely disposed telescoping relation, and a coil spring arranged on said links; the arms of the links being provided with abutments engaging the ends of the spring.

10. A boat fastening apparatus comprising a hitch bar having a socket member at its outer end provided with a downwardly facing socket, a coupling stud member adapted for attachment to a boat and having a head with which said socket member may be engaged by a tilting movement of the socket member, the disengagement of the socket member being prevented when the hitch bar is in an approximately horizontal position, said socket member having means disposed on one side thereof and projecting beneath said stud member head at one side of the stud member to prevent said disengagement of the socket member from the stud member head, a support engaging anchoring means for the inner end of said bar, and a pair of stay cables connected at their outer ends to said bar and provided with attaching means at their inner ends adapted for attachment to the support in spaced relation to the said hitching bar anchoring means with the cables in inwardly diverging relation.

FLOYD A. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,094,610 Steinhauer Apr. 28, 1914 2,387,352 Radick Oct. 23, 1945 2,456,839 Princell Dec. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 668,786 Germany Dec. 9, 1938 

